The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-24
His Diamond Dream.

Pine Bluff (Ark.) Letter TO the Chicago Herald.
But few years ago a man OF ebony hue
by the name of Wiley Jones was a journey
man barber in one of the colored shops OF
Pine Bluff-and ali the BARRIERS here are OF
that complexion-drawing the moderate
pay of an ordinary hand. As this son of
Ham stood by the chair in which his Gus
toner sat, and laid the lather on thick, he
gave expression to one wish.
do yah know, sab, he used to say to his
PROSTATE victim, dat dis yah mig would
like to hab a damon de size OBJ King
Whites? And Use gwine TO hab one, suah r.
King White is the Mayor of this city, and
is, in the language Of Que of Chicago's
"reminiscences, THE best" Pine Bluff has
ever had. The diamond he wears is a
brilliant of no mean proportions, and such a
one as might well excite the emulation or
cupidty of the fastidious African exiles.
In dollars its value is 500. and TO raise
this amount was Wiley Jones sole ambi-
ton. Wiley was not a scholar, nor could
he even read or write. Nature, however,
gifted him with long head and a strong
will power, both of which, had they been
properly cultivated from youth, would have
led the negro to higher place among his
followers He was 80 before he became am
bilious to possess the big diamond, the
duplicate of King Whites
His wages, or a maj part of them, it Is
said, went into a capacious stocking every
week, though the people of Pine Bluff had
no reason TO believe from outward indica-
tions on Wileys part, that he was not sink
ing his money in the flashy foibles to which
the men of his race take so kindly. He kept
on shaving and talking diamonds until his
customers began to secretly entertain the
belief that Wiley Jones, whose courtesy and
mild manners made him a favorite, had
become monomaniac on the subject. The
dollars accumulated in the stocking until
100 big round silver coins lay together i'll
the worsted easement. Only short time
elapsed after this before it was rIImored in
colored society that the barber had made
purchase of a piece of real estate on the
main thoroughfare, and that he had paid
800 cash on it. This seemed to be the
starting point of Wiley Jones' for
tune. Real estate pu chases awere f5r I:
quently recorded in his Name. He
left the barber shop, but kept
on his way, the same affable, smiling dar-
key. A liquor and cigar store soon bore his
name. Then he secured the franchise to lay
horse-car tracks in the city, greatly to the
surprise of white men who were slowly
scheming the same thing, but who were not
quick enough in taking advantage of their
privileges and chances Within year cars
were running on all the leading streets of
the CITY, the whole outfit in the individual
name of Wiley Jones-not in the soulleSs
cognomen of corporation, a style so popu
lar in Northern financial circles.
The only race-track in this city was built
by and is owned by him. day it is esti-
mated that his wealth will not fall
short of $780, All this has been
acquired by him within five years,
and he is now more popular with the nC-
groes of Pine Bluff than he ever was. The
whites respect him and have reason to be
glad of the presence of such darkey among
them There is not more philosophical
citizen in the State of Arkansas.
He is reputed to be liberal contributor
to every public movement, and besides own
ing a prosperous mercantile business, race
track and street railway, he is the pos
SCISSOR of the fastest horses i'll that part of
the country.
Wiley Jones is now 35 years old,
and within the past year has learned to
write his name, but he can do more in that
line. He has never been married, though
duszy mammas deem him a splendid
catch" for he has long since achieved his
ambition in the way of a big diamond,
though he has tired of wearing it in fan
mel shirt